Biologists from the Area 3 and 4 Fisheries Management Offices teamed up to sample panfish populations at Hills Creek
Lake during the week of May 19. The 136 acre lake is located in Hills Creek State Park, Tioga County. The two
crews combined to set a total of 40 trap nets.

Tim Wilson and Christine Kolata Set a Trap Net

The Area 3 Crew Pulling a Trap Net

Bluegills were the principal panfish at Hills Creek Lake. Bluegill catch rates were good and the numbers of bluegill
between eight and ten inches were impressive.

Hills Creek Lake Bluegills

Other panfish we collected in good numbers and sizes during the survey were black crappies, yellow perch, and
bullheads. The gamefish catch included a very good population of walleyes with fish as large as 28 inches. Trap nets
don’t normally catch bass very well, but a few large individuals managed to find their way into our nets.